NEW ORLEANS -- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh can rattle off a simple wish list for his sideline debut Friday night: Stay healthy, don't fumble snaps, line up correctly, don't get kicks blocked, overcome the crowd noise at the Louisiana Superdome.

Then he offers up one more thing he'd like to see from his team against the Saints: "fanatical effort."

The term aptly describes Harbaugh's approach two weeks into training camp. The 49ers are casting a new aura with the energetic Harbaugh, hired away from a rejuvenated Stanford program in January for a princely sum (five years, $25 million).

"Coach Harbaugh brings enthusiasm. We have fun," running back Frank Gore said. "He lets you be yourself. It's all about football. If you mess up, he still lets you know what you can do better. He brings you up. He never tries to bring you down. And that's a plus."

When Gore emerged from a four-day camp holdout, he cited a love for football and a strong belief in Harbaugh. Similar testimonials followed from the stream of veteran free agents who have signed since camp opened.

"Coach Harbaugh is on the right track in terms of building something," free safety Madieu Williams said. "Everybody is aware of his track record in college."

Advertisement

Cornerback Carlos Rogers added: "He seems fun, wants to work and get better. We're not coming out here and getting, 'You better do this, and you better do that.' He just wants to win."

Harbaugh's detail-oriented, high-tempo approach is an apparent change from the former regime under coach Mike Single-tary, whose motivational talks often centered on his linebacker days with the Chicago Bears, particularly the 1985 title team.

"I know a lot about that team," said one veteran, wishing to remain anonymous. "We're back playing football, and that's great."

Harbaugh broke into the NFL as a first-round draft pick of the Bears in 1987 and quarterbacked five teams in his 15-year career. Aside from a slight limp, he still looks capable of taking a few snaps. He is actively involved in practices, from standing in the offense's huddles to once going in motion and lining up as the slot receiver.

Butterflies are not among the challenges Harbaugh expects to face during his coaching debut.

"I'm not going to go hit anybody and tackle anybody," Harbaugh said. "My time has passed to be a player."

While Singletary's one-on-one contact drill known as the "nutcracker" drew condemnation by some, Harbaugh has not exactly gone soft. The 49ers suited up in full pads and game uniforms in eight of 11 practices this camp, excluding Thursday's hourlong "mock game" before their flight to New Orleans.

"We've been having some long tough days out there," running back Anthony Dixon said. "I know at one point I was like, 'Is Coach Singletary out here?' It's getting tough. Coach Harbaugh is a tough dude. They have things in common."

All four quarterbacks -- Smith, Kaepernick and undrafted rookies Jeremiah Masoli and McLeod Bethel-Thompson -- are slated to play against the Saints.

Harbaugh put a "pitch count" at 20 snaps for his offensive starters, while the first-string defense's action will be determined on an individual basis, according to coordinator Vic Fangio.

"We're racing right now to get to where we need to be," Harbaugh said.

The 49ers released rookie tight end Chris Blohm, who signed Monday, and tight end Colin Cloherty missed time with an undisclosed injury.

Upon joining the Saints last week as a free agent, former 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin told the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "I'm here with guys who have won a Super Bowl and have all the talent to do it again."

Former Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan, the Saints' first-round draft pick, has been practicing with the second-string unit.

Staff writer Daniel Brown contributed to this report. For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman's Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.